About this project

$43,458

pledged of $42,000 goal

1,579

backers

WHAT IS CRAIG THE GENIE?

Craig the Genie is an episodic comedy series written by Brandon Blanks and Jordan P. Kelley that follows Pat (Patrick McLaughlin), a slacker/history buff attempting to reform his ways in order to responsibly transition into adulthood. However, his good intentions are often thwarted as he is frequently tempted and tested by his roommate and former genie, Craig (Joey Richter). Craig is anything but your typical genie. Regularly donning beanies and tank tops and constantly sporting a four-day-old beard, Craig is the proverbial king of sloth. While Craig may have a genie's magic powers, his wherewithal and general inability to use his magic properly causes problems for himself, Pat, and their other happy-go-lucky roommate, Googol (Andrew James Parkhill). Craig's antics inadvertently help and hinder Pat's attempts to get his life together, creating the push and pull that drives the series. It's one part Workaholics, one part Wilfred, and just a dash of National Treasure.

A long time ago, at a Middle School
in Laguna Niguel, California, something was happening. Something
funny. At the lunch table nearest the faculty parking lot, a group of
boys sat patiently, eagerly waiting for the boy who sat at the center of the
cluster to take a sip of his red sports drink. The silence as he lifted
the bottle was excruciating. Nobody said a word. Then, just as the liquid
touched his lips, it started. "Monkey Farts!" "Jelly Face!"
"Ketchup!" And like that it was all over. The mention of a
basic condiment sent red punch flying out of the boy's mouth and nose as he
broke down laughing. The rest of the boys followed suit, until their
laughter died down and they were prepared to go again.

It was then and there that an
alliance was born. One in which friends would consistently challenge one
another in an endless game of "who can make the other guy laugh?"
In 8th grade drama class, when they began to make videos together, the
game went on. In high school, where they performed in plays and musicals
on the same stage, the game went on. Even when they went off to UC Davis,
UCLA, and University of Michigan, the game went on.

Joey still drinks red punch from time
to time, and still the game goes on. Today, we stay true to our roots through a number of entertainment outlets. Collectively we've written several feature length films, shot and acted in many student shorts, and one of us starred in a stage musical that became a Youtube sensation. We work as producers, editors, and filmmakers, moving from one project to the next. Craig the Genie is the latest
project in our endless quest to make each other laugh. This Kickstarter
is an open invitation for you to join us in the laughter!

Craig the Genie has been in the works
for nearly 3 years. What started as a
simple drawing became an idea that went round and round amongst us. We’d make jokes about the type of situations
Craig, Pat, and Googol would get into. The phrase “Wouldn’t it be funny if…” became synonymous with Craig the
Genie. It’s always been clear to us that
we wanted Craig and the gang to come to life on screen, but distance and timing
inhibited our ability to execute.

Now, we all live and work in Los Angeles. We’ve hooked up with Cinematographer and friend Graham Robbins as well as gained support and backing from producers Armen Aghaeian and Edward Mokhtarian. Since then we’ve been working passionately and diligently
to generate content, including writing the first episode and outlining an
entire first season. That was phase 1.

YOU are phase 2. Help us reach
our funding goal in order to produce episode 1!

Phase 3 is production, where we will put the money to good use renting a
sound stage, an additional camera, lights, and props as well as hire a small
crew and additional actors.

Phase 4 is post-production, where we
will contract out a composer for original music and an editor for post-production
effects and color correction.

Once all of these things have been
completed, the first episode will exist in a viewable form! Which brings
us to Phase 5: Distribution. We believe in Craig the Genie and want to
give it the opportunity to reach a wide audience, which is why we intend to use
the pilot as a means of attracting an investor/distributor such as a network or
online streaming service.

With your help and a bit of luck, we
can make it to Phase 5. But, for the sake of argument, what if Phase 5
fails? You'll be out your money and we'll have nothing to show for it?
OF COURSE NOT! Enter Phase 6. If we are unable to gain a large
distributor, we will self-distribute via download on Vimeo. This way, we
will be able to get you the pilot you so graciously backed as well as demonstrate
that Craig the Genie has a viable audience. Viewership will attract
private investors, giving us the opportunity to seek funding to complete the
season.

Again, you're asking yourself, “and
if THAT doesn't work?” Well, we over here at the Craig The Genie camp
don't give up that easily. If we are unable to gain any sort of outside
investment, we'll sell the episode on Vimeo and roll the money into episode 2.
Admittedly, it's not the most efficient way to make a series, but if you
want it, we'll make it.

This is why Phase 2 (aka YOU) is so
important! If Craig the Genie sounds/looks like a show you'd like to
watch, then contribute, reblog, retweet, and tell your friends. If you have
questions, concerns, or are simply looking for more info, reach out to us with
the "Contact Me" button and we’ll happily get back to you or respond
in the FAQ section. We want you to be on the ground floor of this project so
that you'll have as much fun watching the first episode as we do.

Original Craig the Genie Sketches (Aug 2010)

IN SHORT...

We're a group of friends who love
laughter, television, and working together. We feel that we've got the
recipe for success, and the only ingredient missing is you.

As Craig would say, “What’s the worst
that could happen?"

Risks and challenges

We have big plans, and big plans can often mean big problems. From broken equipment and weather delays during shooting to getting turned down at the distribution stage, our obstacles are many and unpredictable.

Fortunately, we love unpredictable. Our director, actors, producers, and cinematographer are all positive, hardworking, knowledgeable individuals with a combined 20 years of experience. What's more, each and every one of us wants to see Craig the Genie through to the end, and will do whatever it takes to make it so.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

CHINA - Get the Download Pre-Release and see the first episode of Craig The Genie a week early! PLUS the Behind The Scenes Instagram + a Craig The Genie sticker + Craig's twitter follow + thank you video + special thanks in the credits.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

SILVER - Choose from one of Craig's many headshots! You'll get an 8x10 print of the headshot of your choice PLUS the Download Pre-Release + the Behind The Scenes Instagram + a Craig The Genie sticker + Craig's twitter follow + thank you video + special thanks in the credits.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

PEARL - You get the 8x10 Craig headshot of your choice signed by cast member Joey Richter PLUS the Download Pre-Release + the Behind The Scenes Instagram + a Craig The Genie sticker + Craig's twitter follow + thank you video + special thanks in the credits.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

RUBY - Get your swag on with your very own Craig The Genie T-shirt PLUS Craig's signed 8x10 headshot + the Download Pre-Release + the Behind The Scenes Instagram + a Craig The Genie sticker + Craig's twitter follow + thank you video + special thanks in the credits.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

SAPPHIRE - Participate in a private Google Hangout with four other backers and the cast PLUS a Craig The Genie T-shirt + Craig's signed 8x10 headshot + the Download Pre-Release + the Behind The Scenes Instagram + a Craig The Genie sticker + Craig's twitter follow + thank you video + special thanks in the credits.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

GOLD - You'll receive two tickets to our Craig the Genie screening in the Los Angeles area! Arrive an hour early for a backer exclusive meet-and-greet and stick around afterwards for a Q&A with the cast and crew. You'll also receive a Craig The Genie T-shirt + Craig's signed 8x10 headshot + the Download Pre-Release + the Behind The Scenes Instagram + a Craig The Genie sticker + Craig's twitter follow + thank you video + special thanks in the credits.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

EMERALD - Welcome to the show! You and a friend can make your way out to our set to hang out and appear in the museum scene of the Pilot Episode! You'll also get an Associate Producer credit PLUS a Craig The Genie T-shirt + Craig's signed 8x10 headshot + the Download Pre-Release + the Behind The Scenes Instagram + a Craig The Genie sticker + Craig's twitter follow + thank you video.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

PLATINUM - You rockstar, you. You and a friend have just earned spots as extras in the party scene of the Pilot Episode. Come hang out with us on set and film the scene, and afterwards we'll take you out to dinner. You'll also receive an Executive Producer credit PLUS a Craig The Genie T-shirt + Craig's signed 8x10 headshot + the Download Pre-Release + the Behind The Scenes Instagram + a Craig The Genie sticker + Craig's twitter follow + thank you video.